Espanyol sack Manolo González hours after 121st-minute Copa exit at Sestao River

Jon Rojo’s goal in the last minute of extra time gave Sestao River a 4-3 win and knocked Espanyol out of the Copa del Rey. Within hours the club ended Manolo González’s time as head coach, five months after confirming he would stay with Monchi’s full backing.

Espanyol dismissed head coach Manolo González on Tuesday 27 October 2026, hours after a 4-3 defeat at Sestao River in the Copa del Rey. Defender Jon Rojo won the round of 128 tie at Estadio Las Llanas from a G. Zorrilla assist. He forced home a loose ball in the box in the 121st minute, just as the tie looked to be heading for penalties, EFE reported.

The match was played in heavy rain that left the Las Llanas pitch almost unplayable. Marcos Fernández put Espanyol ahead from the penalty spot after six minutes. Adri Carrión equalised in the 18th minute and Andoni Ugarte made it 2-1 in the 40th, both goals set up by Eneko Delgado Ginés.

Espanyol levelled with a second penalty in the 90th minute. Gabriel Moscardo then put them 3-2 up in the 96th minute. Ander Laka equalised two minutes later before Rojo’s late winner.

The visitors had 61% of the ball against 39% for Sestao River. Espanyol completed 321 accurate passes to Sestao’s 140. Sestao still managed 9 shots on goal to Espanyol’s 6, and Espanyol goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović made 5 saves to the hosts’ 2. Ugarte was the top-rated player on the night with 8.5.

Cup exit follows a run of one point from fifteen

Before the tie, the team had taken only one point from their previous 15 available in LaLiga, according to AFP. Their last six results in all competitions now read five defeats and one draw, with losses to Racing Santander, Atlético Madrid, Elche and Rayo Vallecano and a 1-1 draw with Málaga.

Sestao River, coached by Ángel Viadero, have gone the other way. The win over Espanyol extended a run of five wins and a draw in their last six matches.

González leaves after more than three seasons

The club’s announcement brought González’s tenure to a close after more than three seasons in charge. He had reached his 100th official match against Sevilla on 7 September. That made him the ninth-longest-serving coach by matches in Espanyol’s history.

Espanyol finished 11th in LaLiga in 2025/26 under González, with 12 wins, 10 draws and 16 defeats. Monchi, the new sporting director, had given him full backing at that stage.

On the eve of the tie, González admitted results had been poor. He said he would keep fighting for the club until his final day in the job.

Espanyol must now prepare for a LaLiga trip to Villarreal on Friday 30 October. Sestao River travel to Coruxo in Segunda División RFEF Group 1 on Sunday 1 November. The Copa del Rey second round is scheduled for 2 December under the RFEF’s 2026/27 calendar.